Jim Hogg Historic Site
(Operated by the City of Rusk)
RR 5, Box 80
Rusk, TX 75785
903/683-4850
This site is no longer a part of the State Park system.
History: Jim Hogg is 178.4 acres of East Texas Pineywoods east of Rusk in Cherokee County. The property was deeded by the City of Rusk in 1941 and was opened the same year. It is now managed by the City of Rusk.
A memorial to the state's first native born governor, James Stephen Hogg, 1891 - 1895. During his term as state attorney general and governor, Hogg revolutionized state government and private business by strengthening public respect for law enforcement and establishing the Texas Railroad Commission to enforce state anti-trust laws and promote fair business practices.
Activities: Attractions include a scale replica of the birthplace, housing, museum, and family cemetery. Park is for day-use only and has a nature/interpretive trail and a picnic area. A strip mining area (iron ore) can be viewed from a rise on the nature trail, where there is an interpretive display. This mining was done in the late 1880s and early 1890s. Activities are picnicking, historical study, nature study, hiking, and bird watching. Bring your own charcoal, binoculars, camera, and insect repellent. Pets must be kept on a leash. The park offers self-guided and guided museum tours and nature trail tours.
Area Attractions: Nearby points of interest include, Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site, Mission Tejas State Park, Rusk and Palestine State Parks, Texas State Railroad State Park, Tyler State Park, and Historic Nacogdoches, Texas. Other attractions include Home of the National Archives, Resource/Research Center for Hogg Family Genealogy which hosts the National Hogg Genealogy Workshop and Hogg Family Genealogical Society.
Facilities: Facilities consist of restroom without shower; picnic sites (including two group picnic areas, 6 tables, stand-up cooking grills, and drinking water nearby); museum; 1.5 miles of day hike trails; a playground for small children; and a souvenir Texas State Park Store.
Flora/Fauna: In this Pineywoods of east Texas, visitors can enjoy wildlife observations and photography of birds, squirrels, and deer on occasion. You can also experience a great variety of trees and shrubs native to East Texas.
Weather: January average low is 35 degrees; July average high is 94 degrees; first/last freeze: November 15/ March 15. April, May, and September wettest months. .
Schedule: Open: Friday - Sunday Closed: Monday - Thursday June - August 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. September - May, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Busy Season: March - May, September - November
Directions: The park is located two miles east of Rusk off Highway 84 East and Fire Tower Road, then to Park Road 50.